'Three Strikes' To Become Law

ACT Leader Rodney Hide
was today pleased to announce that ACT's 'Three Strikes'
policy is to be incorporated into the Government's
Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill for passing into
law.

"'Three Strikes and the Max' sends the clear message
that repeat violent offending won't be tolerated. It is
about making our homes, our businesses, and our communities
safe once more," Mr Hide said.

"The strike offences are
listed. As a general rule the list comprises all the major
violent and sexual offences that have a maximum penalty of
seven years or more.

"An offender's first conviction
counts as Strike One. They will serve the sentence the
judge sets and be eligible for parole. A conviction for a
second strike offence will count as Strike Two. They will
serve the full judge-given sentence - no parole. Subsequent
offending will count as Strike Three - these offenders will
serve the maximum sentence for their crime with no parole.
The judge sentencing a Strike Three offender will have no
option but to sentence the offender to the 'max' unless it
would be 'manifestly unjust' to do so.

"'Three Strikes'
deliberately escalates the punishment for repeat violent
offenders. Most offenders won't want to risk a second
strike. Repeat offenders will be locked up without parole
and for maximum sentences. The result will be a safer New
Zealand.

"Three Strikes has long been core ACT policy. We
campaigned hard on it in Election 08 with ACT's Justice
Spokesman David Garrett leading the charge," Mr Hide
said.

"'Three Strikes' received huge support from a public
sick of repeat violent offending and is well overdue," ACT
Justice Spokesman David Garrett said.

"The key issues were
the list of 'strike' offences, whether there should be a
three or five year sentence to qualify for a 'strike' or
just a conviction, and whether the 'Third Strike' would mean
'life' or the 'max'," Mr Garrett said

"As part of our
Confidence & Supply Agreement National agreed to give ACT's
'Three Strikes' a fair hearing at Select Committee. David
Garrett drafted the initial policy and through the past year
ACT and National have worked co-operatively and
constructively together to develop 'Three Strikes' into
policy to keep Kiwis safe," Mr Hide said.

"National
Ministers and the Prime Minister worked hard with me and the
ACT team to get the best result for New Zealand. It's a
proud day for ACT. It's a great day for law-abiding Kiwis.
We finally have a Government cracking down on violent
offending," Mr Hide said.

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